30th June 2023
Dear Parents and Carers,
The children are all busy rehearsing for their performances as part of our musical theatre work this term. In one class, the children have made some fantastic lions and decorated T-shirts ready for their production. In Maths, a number of children followed preposition instructions whilst another child used cheerios and spaghetti to count. Others have been learning to distinguish heavy from light objects. In literacy, some of our older pupils worked hard to hear sounds and spell jellybean. Another has been encouraging everyone to join in with the words and actions to the Phonics songs! In developing social skills, one child has been so helpful and kind, getting other children their favourite toys when they were feeling sad. Another has been initiating interactions with adults by tickling them! One pupil has been making sure that his peers have all the resources they need before sorting himself. Some of our pupils have become more independent this week; one child is clearing his own plate after dinner and another is walking down from the bus to class on his own for the first time. Another child has been in class nearly full time every day and went swimming for the first time in months. One child has done really well at learning in class too, which is fantastic! Some of our pupils have enjoyed riding on the adapted bike. Several children have had very positive transition sessions at Oak Grove. One has been talking to children in their new class and another chose an activity using an aided language board!
Attendance Focus
For the week commencing 19th June, the classes with the best attendance were;
- Explorers hub – Zebra class, Hippo class and Llama class all with 100%
- Investigators hub – Gecko class with 100%
- Engineers hub – Koala class
Keeping children safe during community activities, afterschool clubs and tuition – This is guidance from the Department for Education and has been produced to help parents and carers identify the safeguarding issues to consider when choosing clubs and activities outside of school. You can read the guidance here.
Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme
The HAF Programme is fully funded by the Department for Education and offers children who are entitled to benefits-related free school meals the opportunity to attend participating holiday activity clubs and have a free meal.
Eligible children can attend their chosen HAF provision for a maximum of four days per week during the summer, totalling 16 sessions. Since 12 June, a new online booking system for all HAF bookings across West Sussex has been in place. Families will need to register for an account using their existing HAF codes.
The new booking link is https://haf.bookinglab.co.uk/westsussex/37147/login
To find out more, please follow #HAF2023 or visit the West Sussex HAF programme website here or at https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/education-children-and-families/support-for-families/holiday-activities-and-food-programme/
Are your contact details up to date?
It is vitally important that if you change your home phone/mobile number/email/address/names of contacts, that you immediately let the school know so that we have the most up-to-date contact details.
First Day Calling – attendance & safeguarding
If we have not heard from you by 9.30am, the office staff will contact you. If we are unable to contact you, we will start to call all the contact numbers that you have provided in order to gain an explanation for the absence. If we still have not been able to ascertain where your child is, then we may make a home visit. However, if we still have not been able to get a response, consideration will be given as to whether we alert the police to carry out a home welfare check. This procedure is to ensure that we know where your child is and that you are all safe.
The sign of the week is grass!
Strikes
As you will be aware the NEU has planned more strikes next week. Currently the information we have is as follows:
Wednesday 5th July:
The following classes will be closed:
- Llamas
- Ladybirds
- Polar Bears
Friday 7th July:
The following classes will be closed:
- Llamas
- Ladybirds
- Polar Bears
- Pandas
- Zebras
- Hippos
- Crocodiles
- Koalas
- Sealions
- Peacocks
- Geckos
- Gorillas
Have a lovely weekend!
Very best wishes,
Catriona